title: Manual khalifa therapy in patients with completely ruptured anterior cruciate ligament in the knee: first preliminary results from thermal imaging.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  This preliminary publication describes acute temperature effects after manual Khalifa therapy.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The goal of this study was to describe temperature distribution and the effects on surface temperature of the knees and feet in patients with completely ruptured anterior cruciate ligament before and immediately after the manual therapy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ten male patients were investigated with thermal imaging. An infrared camera operating at a wavelength range of 7.5-13 μm was used. Temperature was analyzed at three locations on both knees and in addition on both feet.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The study revealed that baseline temperature of the injured knee differed from that of the untreated control knee. After the therapy on the injured knee, the surface temperature was significantly increased on both knees (injured and control). There were no significant changes in the temperature of the feet.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Further studies using continuous thermal image recording may help to explain the details concerning the temperature distribution.
authors.affiliation: Stronach Research Unit for Complementary and Integrative Laser Medicine, Research Unit of Biomedical Engineering in Anesthesia and Intensive Care Medicine and TCM Research Center Graz, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria.
authors.forename: Gerhard
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Litscher
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ofner
authors.forename: Daniela
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Litscher
keywords: Anterior cruciate ligament; Khalifa therapy; Knee; Temperature; Thermal imaging